DeOssie on Big Show: 'I love New England'

Tue, 02/07/2012 - 4:18pm — DJ Bean

Steve DeOssie joined The Big Show Tuesday to discuss the hot water he got himself into with Patriots fans over a video that emerged from a party for Giants fans.

DeOssie, who played for both the Giants and the Patriots, is the father of Giants long snapper Zak DeOssie. While at a party for Giants' fans prior to the Super Bowl, DeOssie said that his home was with the Giants and that he had difficulty working in New England as a Patriots analyst.

"I basically said a lot of things that I believe, like the Giants were going to win the game," DeOssie said. "That has nothing to do with my son, and if people up here take it as some way of me disliking the Patriots, it's wrong. My heart, when it comes to football, is with the team that gave me an opportunity, that I won a championship with. The ownership helped me with a very difficult position that I was in in my life. Without any recriminations, I love the Giants organization. It doesn't mean I don't feel strongly about the Patriots. I really loved my two years there. It was great, and it was fun, but when I look back on my football career, I consider myself a New York Giant. I could understand how people could get riled up about that, but I'm not sure I said anything that was untrue."

DeOssie said that he knew while making the comments that they would likely end up on the internet, and that he sees why Pats fans were angered by them. However, he maintained that he was making honest comments about the game, and that he picked against the Giants at a similar party prior to Super Bowl XLII.

"I understand that people get angry, they want you to be a cheerleader for the whole team, but I've never been that way," he said. "I've never been a cheerleader one way or the other. I don't remember a lot of anger when I picked the Patriots to win the Super Bowl in Arizona. That one wasn't much of a big deal. I actually said the same thing at a rally in Arizona and got some boos about that from the Giants fans. I thought the Patriots were a better team, but there's no reason the Giants couldn't pull something out."

As for his comments about having a hard time in New England, DeOssie admitted, "I should have explained myself better," and that he meant he has a hard time picking between two teams he cares about.

"When it comes to my allegiance to the Patriots, which has been great," he said. "Bill Belichick has been great to me, and the two years that I was there, the Krafts were fantastic to me. The Patriots fans have been great. … I grew up here, I chose to make my home here. In a football context, sometimes when it comes to a choice between the Patriots and the Giants, there's a conflict there … but I'm not struggling in New England. I love New England."

DeOssie said that he didn't intend to upset Pats fans, though he can see why they reacted unfavorably.

"My intention was to enjoy the day, appreciate the giants' fans support," he said. "I called it like I saw it. I saw the Giants winning that game."